Michigan Democrats Refuse Skim Milk Despite Self-Inflicted Obesity Leading to State's Slow Death

It is certainly no secret that Michigan has recurring budget problems from year to year, where spending and recurring liabilities exceed consistent revenue streams. Overall income is sketchy because Michigan is running out of future sources to borrow from to make up for their consistent deficits. Eventually a spending policy like Michigan's catches up to them, in much the same fashion that a sporadically employed individual juggles credit cards until they are caught and credit taken away. The State of Michigan certainly isn't being run like small business America, maybe more like Corporate America Enron where the board and executives aren't really looking out for their shareholders. Michigan Democrats refuse to slim down and continues to attempt to skim off the top of what's left from Michigan's businesses and residents. Now might be the time that tax payers should take the credit away and consider replacing any legislator that votes for a tax, fee, or fine increase.

The State of Michigan is dying from within, much like a human body will shut down if it is under the constant stress of extreme obesity. Switching from whole fat milk to slim is just one of the dietary measures an individual in similar circumstances should take. Michigan has been in a downward spiral when it comes to its' financial affairs. With a Democrat controlled House of Represents, leadership just can't seem to grasp the relevance of rolling back expenditures and reducing recurring administrative liabilities. Instead leadership makes a public spectacle that any move will harm public safety, education, or children, while obscuring the fact that there are real reforms that need to take place if Michigan is to be revitalized. Scaring the residents will only last for so long.

Just last week I touched on the issue of a serious reform that was aimed at reducing significant long-term liabilities associated with State of Michigan employees. Not only did the message get sent to every Michigan Representative, it was circulated to various advocacy groups on how to make State Government more sustainable. Instead, Michigan Democrats are showing that it's best to cut public safety, education, and human services than to pay a mere 25% of their own health care. "Let's keep bars open later, let's raise taxes, but let's not cut our own lifetime benefits or take a vested interest in our own health care," is the current leadership way. Sounds like elitism to me.

Part of the Democrat Leadership's solution is to place a tax on physicians gross receipts since tax payers pay for legislator premiums it doesn't affect them. No skin off the legislators back, just add it to the bill that the federal and state tax payer will be responsible for. Endless threads of snowballs rolling down a fluffy hillside looks beautiful until you are the one standing under the avalanche, and that is exactly what additional taxes will cause this winter for Michigan residents. Michigan's uninsured will see an increase in health care costs, Michigan's small businesses will see an increase in expenses associated with their benefits packages, the tax payer will see an increase in more recurring liabilities that will just be part of the next business as usual budget crisis.

According to Michigan House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer's office, Democrats failed to approve of eliminating lifetime benefits for lawmakers, rooting out unemployment fraud, encouraging local government consolidation of services, and more.

In 2007 Democrats raised the State sales tax to 6% and since that time we have seen record unemployment at a current rate of 15.8%. Yes, that is roughly 1 in 6 people unable to provide for their families without government assistance, unemployment, or low-paying side jobs. What percentage of unemployment becomes a crisis? Michigan continues skimming more off the top of the remaining jobs in Michigan which isn't going to solve the budget dilemma. The only thing that will work is actual government reform and downsizing, reducing the liabilities while maintaining services to needy families. Let residents keep more of their earnings so that they have the choice to reinvest in their own communities. Michigan legislators will not be able to fine, tax, and fee their way back to prosperity. It is time to come to the realization that it's time to switch to skim milk even if it doesn't quite taste as good. Trust me, you will get used to the taste and be healthier too.